Sex Offender On the Run

Published July 27th, 2007

There are 58 sex offenders and predators currently registered in Dixie County. Law requires sexual offenders to register their addresses every six months and predators every three; deputies in Dixie County then verify those addresses at least once a month, but Wednesday one offender violated his parole by removing the G.P.S. tracker used to monitor his whereabouts and fled the county.

"I know they'll catch him," Dixie County resident Tracy Varnum said. "He's not going to get very far without somebody catching him sooner or later."

While Jerrel Cannon removed the tracking system in Cross City however, he was last seen in Gilchrist County.

"Their Sheriff's Office went to try and do a warrant arrest on him with Probation and Parole, but they were unsuccessful," Dixie County Sheriff's Capt. Chad Reed said. "He alluded them on foot."

Cannon is the third sexual offender in Dixie County to violate his parole over the past year. Deputies from both counties are conducting an active search for him. The last sexual offender to violate his parole was Jerry Carter last fall.

"We picked Mr. Carter up shortly after this publication was made publication based upon a tip that we received from this publication," Reed recalled.

The Dixie County Sheriff's Office publishes an annual pamphlet that is sent to every mail box in the county, including community centers, such as schools and churches. According to Reed, the publication helps increase awareness about sexual offenders and predators.

"There's a lot of misnomers about what a sexual offender is and what a sexual predator is," Reed explained. "We want residents to read the current information on sexual offenders and current information of sexual predators.

Last year, 7,200 pamphlets were mailed. Varnum said she still has hers and for a mother, it's a useful tool:

"You keep it, you look at the pictures from time to time and if you meet new people, you check them out."